The Preuss School UCSD, a charter school for low-income students who want to be the first in their family to graduate from college, was ranked the 30th best high school in the nation and the fourth best in California by U.S. News & World Report.

The school, which enrolls sixth through 12th graders, also was ranked the seventh best charter school in the nation.

“Our school provides an environment of high expectations where students are continually encouraged to develop a greater sense of confidence and pride in themselves and their academic accomplishments,” Scott Barton, principal of The Preuss School UCSD, said in a statement. “This achievement is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our students, faculty, staff and all those who believe in our mission.”

Preuss was among six schools ranked in the top 50 in the state. Torrey Pines High School in the San Dieguito Union District was ranked 25th and Canyon Crest Academy, also in San Dieguito, was ranked 31st. Westview High, in the Poway Unified District, was ranked 34; La Jolla High, in San Diego Unified, was No. 37; and Coronado High was No. 48.

The magazine compiled the list after evaluating nearly 22,000 public high schools in 49 states and the District of Columbia, looking at overall student performance on state tests, how effectively the schools educated minority and low-income students and at performance on Advance Placement and International Baccalaureate exams.

Preuss officials pointed out that it was the only school in the top 4 that had 100 percent of its students qualify as economically disadvantaged and also had the highest minority population at 97 percent.

Preuss, which is located on the UC San Diego campus, provides its students with an array of support including tutoring, mentoring, counseling and a longer school day. The school has garnered plenty of accolades in recent years, including being named the top transformative high school in the country by Newsweek magazine for two years in a row.